Talk to me about Kindles please

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The time has come, the Remus said,
to talk of many things
like whether I should buy one
and will I like the thing?
And how the heck do they even work
and other sorts of things.

So - are they idiot proof? What can I do on one? How does one put actual books on to it? Can I listen to music on it? How does one actually buy one and switch it on? Etc etc. And will I hate it? Please bear in mind that I cannot use/do not have a mobile phone or MP3 player or anything, so need words of one syllable or less when discussing anything technical.

Thank you. :)

[NerfHerder]

Do you have a computer?
If so, forget the expensive version, and go for paperwhite with wifi (for updates / downloading.

I must say, I never thought I'd see the day...



Though I confess that DH bought me one this birthday

[ohbladee]

Hi OP. I have the most basic version and love it. Idiot proof. It's matte and reads like a book. Considering getting a Paperwhite though which basically is the same, but can be lit?! I think... Not sure about it though as it doesn't have buttons to turn the page - you tap the screen instead. Double the price too.

You can get the fancier Fire versions, which are more tablet-ish with reflective screens and are backlit. I wouldn't want to read on them but they offer more flexibility for video, music etc. I have an iPad mini for that sort of thing. So, I wouldn't buy one.

Amazon have videos of their products online - have a look, they explain all the features. You could also go to JohnLewis or somewhere to have a play and see what you think.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

:)

Yes to computer. Not bothered about t'internet or anything on Kindle.

[magimedi]

I am probably even more of a techno phobe than you. My phone is a nokia that is 12 years old & does not even have a camera.

I have this basic model

I have had it for 2 years & I love it to pieces. I bought it from Dixons & for £15 they offered to set it up for me, but I declined. I knew I had to do it myself.

I've never come across anything that was as intuitive & easy to use.

You have to have an amazon account to buy books.

I use it for holidays, as I am a fast reader & can get through 10 books in a fortnight. I also use it for train journeys & stuff like that.

The range of free books is amazing & I have enough on my Kindle to keep me happy for a month, should I need it. I've downloaded stuff I've always 'meant' to read & have got round to some of it.

I am retired & do read a lot & still use the library & do buy some books. I wouldn't want to use the kindle versions of recipe books for instance.

I resisted getting one for a couple of years & wish I hadn't.

If you live anywhere near me, East Sussex, I'd be happy to meet you for a & show you how to do it!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Urgh - I'm lost already! I just want to be able to read on the bus tbh. I don't even know what a tablet is!

Going to John Lewis a good idea - any excuse to go to John Lewis!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Magi - your link goes to another thread.

[NerfHerder]

Oh, and one simply goes onto Amazon on the pc, clicks on the buy button and they upload themselves onto one's kindle. Really, far too easily!
Beware!

It is much quicker than shopping.

May I recommend The Rabbit Back Literature Society. By Pasi ilmari juuselainan?
You'll hate it of course but possibly slightly less than other books

[ohbladee]

Get the basic one OP! It's £59 on Amazon at the mo. It's brilliant and you can read it and turn the pages one handed

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Nowhere near you, unfortunately. :( What a lovely offer! I have rl friends who use them, so they could help me if I'm completely lost.

[NerfHerder]

Yes, you can read on the bus
Dec get paperwhite( for the light, your eyes will thank-you)
You can have a read on mine if you want to try (tis I!!)
I have loads of free books,v good

Am reading Villette atm

[OwlCapone]

If you are a "technophobe" all you really need is the basic £59 one.

Personally, I have the Paperwhite which is a touch screen and also is lit so I can read in the dark (not backlit like an ipad so it's easy on the eyes)

[magimedi]

Sorry - I told you I was crap with techno stuff!

Try again - here

The other thing that is great is reading outside - your pages don't get blown shut! And the screen has no glare. And, if you forget your reading specs you can make the font really, really large!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Ooh to Vilette. Not read that for years.

By 'I' do you mean 'J' btw?

[ohbladee]

Owl: Is the fact you have to touch the screen to turn the page annoying? It's the only thing putting me off. I love the fact I can lay on a sun lounger and hold and click with one hand! (Other hand busy with many )

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Rabbit book sounds good btw.

[ilovepowerhoop]

if you have wifi at home then you can order books from the kindle to be delivered by 'whispernet' to your kindle (from amazon). Or you can order them from amazon on your computer and get them sent directly to the kindle too.

If you dont want a tablet then either the basic kindle or paperwhite would suit you. I like the paperwhite as you can read it in the dark without a separate light source.

kindle

paperwhite

[ilovepowerhoop]

I tap the screen with my thumb to turn the page

[OwlCapone]

Owl: Is the fact you have to touch the screen to turn the page annoying?

No more annoying than having to press a button or turn a physical page.

I love the fact I can lay on a sun lounger and hold and click with one hand!

Exactly as I can do with the Paperwhite!

[NerfHerder]

Yes!
Really, the paperwhite screen is fantastic v happy to let you play around with mine.

[bruffin]

I hold my paperwhite with one hand and either tap or swipe with my thumb without moving my hand IYSWIM.

[CoteDAzur]

Haha Remus, I knew this day would come!

You will love the Kindle. I predict that you will burn through books at an even more alarming rate once you have a Kindle.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Loving all the conversation about how you all hold them!

Right - so, I like the price of the v basic one, and, if I hate it, I haven't wasted much money. So, if I get one, that's the one I'd get.

I have an Amazon account (used rather more than I ought tbh!) and I imagine that if I get a Kindle it would mostly be used for free classics, or for things to re-read. Generally, if I buy a new book now, as opposed to a charity shop one, it's because I want to own it.

So - I either order a basic one on Amazon or buy one irl at JL. Then what do I do? If I want free classics, do I still do it via Amazon? And CAN I listen to music on it or not? And, if yes, how?

Thank you all v much btw.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Ooh Cote - did you see my post about that French classic that I read? Have you read it?

[BornToFolk]

I've had my bog-standard Kindle for 2 years now and I absolutely love it. It's the easiest thing in the world to use. In fact, it's probably too easy to buy books as I seem to have loads waiting to be read

When this one fails, I will probably get a Paperwhite, purely for the back-lighting (for reading in dark hotel rooms on holiday while DS sleeps!) however I have got a pretty good clip on light for my Kindle which works well so the lack of back-lighting doesn't bother me too much.

It's fabulous for holidays. I used to take a book a day for a beach holidays, now I can just take my Kindle. I never run out of something to read on the beach either! Also, now DS is old enough to enjoy chapter books I've put a load on my Kindle for him.

I've set up a wishlist of Kindle books on Amazon and keep an eye on the prices as they tend to fluctuate quite a lot. I also get the Amazon Daily Deal email which has 2 or 3 books for 99p every day and I've had some great things through that.

Go for it! You won't regret it.

[ilovepowerhoop]

no it doesnt have music - you can listen to music on the normal kindle but would have to copy MP3 files to the kindle using a USB cable and your computer first.

books are mainly bought from amazon but there are plenty of free books on there.